Coast Guard suspends search for missing swimmer near Huntington Beach

Coast Guard suspends search for missing swimmer near Huntington Beach

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Coast Guard has suspended its search for a missing swimmer in Huntington Beach Saturday.

The Coast Guard searched throughout the night into Saturday morning utilizing the 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Coast Guard Station Los Angeles, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Forward Operating Base Mugu and the Coast Guard Cutter Haddock. 

The Coast Guard search spanned more than 152 square nautical miles before suspending search efforts pending further developments.

The missing swimmer has been identified as Van Nguyen, an Asian American male, 5'5", 155 pounds wearing red shorts with a black stripe.

Friday at approximately 8:20 p.m., Huntington Beach lifeguards reported a missing swimmer in the vicinity of 18th street in Huntington Beach. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach dispatched an RB-M from Station Los Angeles, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Forward Operating Base Mugu, the Coast Guard Cutter Haddock and issued an urgent marine information broadcast.

Agencies who assisted with the search:

*       City of Huntington Beach Lifeguards
*       Huntington State Beach Lifeguards
*       Huntington Beach Police Department
*       Orange County Sheriff's Harbor Patrol
*       Newport Beach Lifeguards
*       Laguna Beach Lifeguard Department

Beachgoers are reminded to exercise caution when entering the water and remain cognizant of rip currents. If caught in a rip current, a swimmer should swim parallel to the shoreline until they are out of the rip current and then swim to shore. 

-USCG-